Emily Ann Albrecht
Bar Number: 47299
Emily Ann Albrecht is a senior associate at Floyd, Pflueger & Ringer, P.S., where her practice generally focuses on civil defense litigation. She also has a passion for the niche practice area of funeral law and is one of a handful of attorneys across the country who work closely with the death care industry. She is the current chair of WSBA’s Washington Young Lawyers Committee (WYLC). Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Joey, and their dog, Ted Jones, while sipping a glass of French rosé.
How did you become interested in your practice area?
I first became introduced to mortuary litigation while working on an insurance defense case involving allegations of negligent embalming against our insureds—a funeral home, funeral director, and embalmer. My involvement with that case was literally a career changing experience and I loved every minute of it. Plus, we ultimately ended up going to trial and obtained a unanimous defense verdict!
How do you define success as a lawyer?
A combination of client satisfaction and a reputation of integrity among one’s peers within the legal profession. Also being able to get along with other attorneys in adversarial situations.
How is being a lawyer different from the way you thought it would be?
It involves a lot less “fighting” than I expected it to—or at least it can, if you do it right. As cliché as it may be, they say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar for a reason. At the end of the day, particularly in litigation, I am a firm believer that it is possible to be both a zealous advocate on behalf of our clients and have pleasant interactions with opposing counsel. Ultimately, when that happens it ends up being in the best interest of everyone involved—including, most importantly, that of our clients—and, more often than not, increases the chances of settling a case.
What is your best piece of advice for someone who’s just entered law school?
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. And don’t raise your hand in class an obnoxious amount of the time—even professors get annoyed by that, not to mention your classmates. You’ll get called on plenty of times—trust me—so chill. Also if/when you don’t actually know the answer to a question, it’s OK to admit that. Once you become a lawyer it happens all the time. We never stop learning.
If you had to give a 10-minute presentation on one topic other than the law, what would it be and why?
Green Bay Packers football because they are the best franchise of all time, of course, and I became a shareholder in 2021 (which is kind of a big deal). Plus, they are going to win the Super Bowl next year. And Aaron Rodgers is the real GOAT, not Tom Brady. Go Pack Go!
LIGHTNING ROUND
What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Black coffee.
What is one thing your colleagues may not know about you? I am fluent in French.
What is your favorite smell? Jasmine.
What book have you read more than once? The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
What is your favorite song? Just Like Heaven by The Cure.
What is your favorite movie? That would have to be a tie between Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Death Becomes Her.
What is the last thing you watched on television? Jeopardy (one of my life goals is to be a contestant someday, fingers crossed).
What is the best fictional representation (TV, movie, book) of a lawyer? James Stewart in Anatomy of a Murder.
What is your best random fact that you would share with others at a party? I collect oddities and curiosities—including a human skull. Plus, I have a lot of macabre knowledge about death and the funeral industry which tends to make me rather popular at cocktail parties for some reason…
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